BC residents are leaving the province in droves, and Alberta is the largest beneficiary of former British Columbians due to the difference in the cost of living.
This isn’t breaking news; the trend has been happening for some time. BC has been bleeding residents to cheaper locales like Alberta for some time now, but there’s some pushback against the trend.
The pushback comes from the Business Council of BC (BCBC), which has started a new campaign opposing Alberta’s “Alberta is Calling” ad campaign. In a news release, the council also reveals some pretty staggering stats about how many people are leaving the province and why.
Earlier this year, we published a story about how an alarming number of businesses were considering leaving BC.
“64% of employers are considering leaving the province and taking their business to another jurisdiction,” Fiona Famulak, president and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce, told Daily Hive in an exclusive interview.
There were a few reasons for that, including high costs, regulatory changes, and taxes and fees.
As the Business Council of BC is trying to point out, it’s not just the threat of business leaving.
The council points out that “for the first time in over a decade, BC is experiencing a net population loss to other Canadian provinces and territories.”
It adds that 50% of those leaving for other provinces choose Alberta as their destination. Another alarming statistic from Statistics Canada is that 67% of people leaving are under 40, “highlighting a significant loss of young talent.”
Another sobering statistic that comes from a 2024 Angus Reid survey is that 50% of people between the ages of 18 and 34 are considering leaving.
In the most recent BC provincial election — which went into quadruple overtime — the cost of living was the “number one” issue for voters, according to an Ipsos poll.
“Many have heard the Alberta is Calling ads and laughed them off, but the reality is other provinces are calling, and people are answering,” said Laura Jones, BCBC president and CEO, in a release.
“We want British Columbians to know that staying here is possible — and it starts with building a stronger economy to reduce the pressure to leave. It might feel like it right now, but leaving the province isn’t the only solution to making life more affordable.”
BCBC also wrote a letter to residents to spark the Stay in BC campaign, which you can read here.
Are you a BC resident who is considering leaving the province? Maybe you already have. Whatever the case, let us know in the comments, and if you’d like to share your story, email us at [email protected].